Simplify Your Life

Moving into a tiny house means saying goodbye to a lifetime of stuff. It sounds overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be. The key is having a plan and tackling it one step at a time.

This checklist will walk you through exactly what to keep, what to donate, and what to toss as you prepare for tiny living. You’ll learn how to make the tough decisions about your belongings and discover that less really can be more.

Ready to transform your relationship with your stuff and step into a simpler life? Let’s get started.

Shift Your Mindset

Define why you want to downsize (financial freedom, minimalism, sustainability, etc.)
Visualize your tiny home and the essentials you’ll need
Commit to letting go of non-essential items

Declutter Your Current Home

Sort Everything Into: Keep | Donate | Sell | Trash

Clothes (keep only what fits, is versatile, and necessary)
Shoes & Accessories (limit to essentials)
Kitchen items (keep multi-purpose tools, minimize dishware)
Furniture (only keep what fits a tiny space)
Decorations & Sentimental items (digitize photos, keep a few special items)
Books (switch to digital or keep a small collection)
Paperwork (scan and store digitally)
Hobby & Craft Supplies (keep only what you actively use)
Cleaning Supplies (downsize to multi-purpose products)
Electronics & Cables (ditch old devices and excess cords)

Tip: If you haven’t used it in 6 months (and it’s not seasonal), you don’t need it!

Test Living Small

Live in one room with only tiny-house essentials for a month
Rent or stay in a tiny house for a weekend to experience the space
Take notes on what you truly need and adjust your downsizing

Organize & Optimize Your Essentials

Choose multi-functional furniture (e.g., bed with storage, foldable table)
Maximize vertical storage (wall-mounted shelves, hanging racks)
Use nesting bowls, stackable bins, and collapsible kitchenware
Vacuum-seal off-season clothes and bedding
Store items in labeled containers for easy access

Digitize Everything You Can

Scan and store important paperwork digitally
Switch to e-books and audiobooks
Use streaming services instead of keeping DVDs and CDs
Upload photos to cloud storage or an external hard drive

Plan for Your Tiny House Lifestyle

Decide on necessary appliances (compact fridge, induction cooktop, etc.)
Create a workspace if you work from home
Plan for guests (fold-out bed, floor cushions, etc.)
Make room for pets (hidden litter box, under-bed storage for supplies)
Research legal and zoning laws for tiny house placement

Let Go & Move Forward

Sell, donate, or give away the last of your unneeded items
Pack only what serves a purpose in your tiny home
Celebrate your new simplified life

By taking small steps, this big challenge can become something manageable. I’ve created a PDF version of this that you can download, and as a bonus, it includes some great Tiny House Resources.

Download the Ti ny House Downsizing Checklist

Cut the Clutter, Simplify Your Life, and Move into Your Tiny Home!